Recent News

By Sue Abbott Sue Abbott is a Scone resident and Councillor, as one of few female leaders in our community scone.com.au asked her to write a piece on what White Ribbon Day means to her. Sue has consistently championed the need for more low-cost housing for women and children escaping domestic violence in our Shire, […]

STRONG westerly winds from the passage of a cold front has brought dust from South Australia across western New South Wales which reached the Hunter this morning. THE Bureau of Meteorology has said the may be the potential for dust from the Central West to also come through the Upper Hunter later today and windy […]

THE Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre is encouraging people to have their photo taken and take the oath against violence towards women in the lead up to White Ribbon Day on Friday. LEE Watts, manager of the Centre said that every year she writes a media release to remind everyone that we need to stop violence […]

THE NSW Resources Regulator has issued initial investigation information into the death of Quinton Moore at Bengalla mine. At approximately 7:20pm on November 3 the 37 year old Scone man was fatally injured when a 2.2 tonne large earthmoving tyre fell from the tyre handler in the mine’s heavy vehicle wash bay. Mr Moore and […]

SCONE was ranked as low on a pollution by postcode breakdown in a recent report by the Australian Conservation Foundation, however Muswellbrook was rated as the third most polluted postcode in the country, with 161195612.7 total emissions in the air per kilogram. Aberdeen was ranked as medium, while Merriwa and Murrurundi had no pollution levels […]

BARNABY Joyce stood unopposed at the National Party pre-selection on the weekend and will be their candidate for the seat of New England in the federal election next year. Last year the member was found to be ineligible to sit in Parliament following a High Court ruling on his dual citizenship and a by-election for […]

ON Saturday, the staff and residents of Strathearn are opening their home, putting on a BBQ and entertainment, the whole community is invited and you can bring your pet. There will be face painting, music by the Scone Grammar School, a cake stall, raffles, trash and treasure, judging of the colouring in competition and the […]

THE Upper Hunter Shire Council issued a media release recently stating that “Scone is a no-fly drone zone”, however the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has confirmed this is not strictly the case. The Scone airport is a “non-controlled” airport, which means drones can be flown in Scone, just not directly under the flight path; […]

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By Graham Turvey Something unusual for the 24 Vets who played at Aberdeen on Tuesday, Nov 13 – a stableford event, instead of the usual S&P. The greens and surrounds are very well watered – thanks to Doug Dowell and his helpers. George Campbell won the day with 41 points from Doug Dowell 2nd with […]

By Des Dugan MICHAEL didn’t announce it but the NSW Nationals did. It’s official, Michael Johnsen has been re-endorsed for the Upper Hunter for the March 2019 State Election. NSW Nationals Chairman Bede Burke congratulated Mr Johnsen on the result and said he would continue to be a strong voice for the region in Parliament. […]

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THIS afternoon and on Saturday the community can meet the team behind the bypass and ask questions about the project. Plans, a virtual reality tour and information on technical aspects of the bypass will be available. WHEN: 3pm-6pm, Tuesday, November 13 and 9:30am – 11:30am, Saturday, November 17. WHERE: Scone Arts and Crafts Hall, 63 […]

WHEN the soldiers of World War One returned from war they returned as different people, who had endured the horrors of war, lost childhood mates and would carry with them the burden of their service for the rest of their years. Most would not talk about the war, no doubt because they wanted to leave […]

“If you feel like a stick has scratched you, turn around and check none of the sticks are moving,” said snake catcher Judy Martin. “Brown snakes don’t leave puncture wounds and their bite can feel like a scratch,” Ms Martin said. Mark Bell, manager of Scone Ambulance said he has seen patients deteriorate quickly from […]

QANTAS has released their 101 holidays list and among well established festivals such as Floriade in Canberra and the MONA FOMA in Tasmania is the Scone Literary Festival. The Festival is only in it’s fifth year, but is growing in popularity and literary line-up. Janie Jordan, interim president of the Festival said they were thrilled. […]

By Graham Turvey MANY thanks to Gary Morley for his generous annual sponsorship of the Vets’ mulligans stableford round, played this year on Tuesday, 2nd October at Muswellbrook Golf Club. We received apologies from former captain Max Holz and Nellie. There were 18 players and George Campbell came out on top with 39 points in […]

THE Dougal Archibald Trophy was played in Scone on the weekend, with Ellerston taking out the honours this year. While the grounds were drier this year due to the drought, the country polo tradition of bringing the community together was a welcome respite. See photos of the game and winners below. Ian Archibald, brother of […]

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A SMALL silver lining with the drought is it will impact on the brown snake population. According to snake catcher Judy Martin, brown snakes need water for their eggs and the female does not get access to water the eggs will die. “Snakes do not breed every year, so they often skip a year and […]

CURRENTLY there are only three licenced snake catchers in New South Wales due to processing issues with the Office of Environment and Heritage, however the local Wildlife Aid is still able to manage snakes. Wildlife Aid can be reached on: T: 0429 850 089. Daryl Clayton is a snake catcher with Wildlife Aid based in […]

By Trish Taylor On Saturday 22nd September 2018 King of the Ranges members gathered at Rosedale Complex Murrurundi to remember six Committee members who have sadly passed away in recent years and who had given many hours to ensure continuation of the King of the Ranges event. The date was significant as King of the […]

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SCONE Polo Club had a big day on Sunday hosting the Beersheba Cup, the previously postponed Macintyre Cup and the Hunter Valley Cup round robin event at their Gundy polo fields to be followed this weekend with the Dougal Archibald trophy. Last weekend Ellerston Grey were the winners in the Macintyre Cup defeating Ellerston Blue […]

LOCAL real estate agents are questioning if Upper Hunter Shire Council has any due process for selling land in the Shire, following an exclusive listing of land in Aberdeen despite Council’s previous assurances to local agents that there would be a fair and transparent process. The land in Perth Street, Aberdeen is listed on www.realestate.com.au […]

THERE’S fame and fortune to be had for local high school students with the Scone Literary Festival writing competition. The 500 word stories must feature the theme Magic and Power, the winner receives $500 and students from the Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook Shires can enter. “We are all about encouraging the love of writing and […]

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THE Belmore Hotel is running “Parma for a Famer” and has raised $1,672 for Rural Aid. Romy Kelaher from the Belmore said they are encouraging customers to buy a parma for dinner or make a donation when they buy a drink. “The drought is affecting so many people in our community and we have seen […]

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THE inaugural event for the Scone Triathlon Club will be held on October 7. “The first one will be a duathlon, because we figured the pool would be a bit cold for a triathlon straight up,” said Nicky Western. Nicky Western who has won two age world championships, a national age championship and a few […]

THE original ant bed tennis courts in Gundy were recently restored through community fundraising and now a $18,310 government grant will allow the Gundy Social Tennis Club to put down a synthetic surface. Rachel Roberts, president of the Club said it will be great for the people of Gundy, especially the children. “I was fairly […]

By Graham Turvey THIRTEEN vets played a stableford event at Murrurundi Golf Club – always a pleasure – on a beautiful spring morning and with lots of harmless repartee as usual, on Tuesday, 25th Sept. Tommy Thompson blitzed the field with 43 points, from starter and orderer of the lunch pies John Norman 2nd with […]

SCONE held the first all women’s rugby 7’s tournament last year, attracting teams and a buzz throughout the state and the call is out for the second tournament in November. Bridget Hunt, secretary and treasurer for the Tournament said they have already attracted more teams than last year. “There are 10 senior teams set to […]

IN court this month Magistrate Soars noted the high prevalence of drink driving in such a small community. She noted drink driving offences occurred throughout other areas where she presides but said, “it appears to be even more prevalent when I am sitting down here and people seem blasé.” The following matters appeared before Scone […]

THE Bureau of Meteorology has advised while there is the likelihood of rain this weekend, most of the rainfall is expected on the north-west slopes and plains will be blocked by the Liverpool Range. There is a low pressure system currently over South Australia currently tracking across the north of the state which will generate […]

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THE conservation team from the Aussie Ark, located on the Barrington Tops are set to rescue Australia’s oldest turtle the the Manning River turtle more widely known as the “bum breather”. The endangered turtle is believed to have existed in Australia for more than 55 million years and earned the title of bum breather because […]

By Graham Turvey THE A Grade Champion of the UHVGA for 2018 is Captain Phil Ledgerwood who won by 4 shots. B Grade Champion is Lindsay Hodge who won by 2 and C Grade Champion is Brian Dever who won by 6. The Nett winner is Gary Gray with 147 nett. Twenty-two Vets played the […]

THE Rural Fire Service are imploring people to volunteer ahead of this year’s fire season, which will start a month early on September 1. Tim Butcher, from Liverpool Plains Rural Fire Service has said volunteers have spent the last 12 months combating fires and this fire season is of high concern. “The inherent dryness of […]